”Saints” proves more appealing than religious

“Saints and Soldiers” may be an independent film, but it’s not the kind we’re used to. It’s a solidly old-fashioned World War II drama with a protagonist accurately described by his friend as “the squarest guy I know.”

Directed by Ryan Little, “Saints” is distributed by Salt Lake City’s Excel Entertainment, a group that has effectively marketed well-reviewed films such as “God’s Army” and “Brigham City” to a previously untapped audience: the LDS (Latter-day Saint) or Mormon community.

Although the initiated will pick up hints about its origins (the title is one of several tip-offs), what is different about “Saints and Soldiers” is that its LDS connections are never overt. Moreover, the film has won awards at 14 film festivals.

Inspired by actual events, “Saints and Soldiers” benefits by being a small-scale war movie, intent on following the actions of five soldiers who are trapped behind German lines in December 1944, desperate to make it to freedom and to deliver a crucial bit of information. With solid acting and writing, plus direction that tends toward the quiet and natural, “Soldiers” manages to turn simply avoiding missteps into something of a virtue.

The film begins with a real event that came to be known as the Malmedy Massacre, the killing of a group of American prisoners by German troops.

Escaping the gunfire are four Americans commanded by tough Sgt. Gunderson (Peter Holden). He is joined by Gould (Alexander Niver), a cynical medic from New York. Kendrick (Lawrence Bagby) is a Louisiana country boy determined to “get me some more Krauts.” And then there is Greer (Corbin Allred), familiarly known as Deacon.

Though clearly the good guy, Deacon is having problems with shell-shock and hallucinations. The guys also have to deal with downed British pilot Oberon Winley (Kirby Heyborne), who insists on getting vital information in his possession to HQ.

Though “Saints and Soldiers’ ” examination of faith, self-sacrifice and morality is not groundbreaking, it always holds our interest. So do the film’s combat sequences, which were rated R for violence before being reedited to PG-13. Even films that praise the Lord have to worry about passing the ammunition.